Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — The Slaying of Jambha and the Rise of Tāraka: Divine Battle Formations

Devanagari script

कस्ते सखाभवच्चाग्रे हिरण्याक्षवधे विभो हिरण्यकशिपुर्दैत्यो वीर्यशाली मदोद्धतः //

Transliteration

kaste sakhābhavaccāgre hiraṇyākṣavadhe vibho hiraṇyakaśipurdaityo vīryaśālī madoddhataḥ //

Translation

O mighty Lord, who was your ally formerly at the time of Hiranyākṣa’s slaying? And tell also of the Daitya Hiranyakaśipu—strong in valor and swollen with pride.

Word by Word

• कः (kaḥ): who?

• ते (te): your

• सखा (sakhā): ally/friend

• अभवत् (abhavat): became/was

• च (ca): and

• अग्रे (agre): formerly/earlier

• हिरण्याक्ष-वधे (hiraṇyākṣa-vadhe): in the killing of Hiranyākṣa

• विभो (vibho): O all-powerful Lord

• हिरण्यकशिपुः (hiraṇyakaśipuḥ): Hiranyakaśipu

• दैत्यः (daityaḥ): a Daitya (demon of Diti’s line)

• वीर्य-शाली (vīrya-śālī): possessed of great prowess

• मद-उद्धतः (mada-uddhataḥ): intoxicated/arrogant with pride

Speaker

• Vaivasvata Manu (questioning Lord Matsya/Vishnu)

Entities Mentioned

• Hiranyākṣa
• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Daityas
• Lord Vishnu (implied as Vibhu)

Tags

• Daitya genealogy
• Avatar narratives
• Hiranyaksha
• Hiranyakashipu
• Puranic dialogue

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not describe Pralaya directly; it shifts to historical-epic narration, asking about Vishnu’s allies and the Daitya Hiranyakaśipu in the aftermath of Hiranyākṣa’s death.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

Indirectly, it frames a moral-political theme common in the Matsya Purana: unchecked pride (mada) and violent power (vīrya) in rulers like Hiranyakaśipu lead to adharma and eventual downfall—an admonition for kings to govern with restraint and dharma.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

No Vastu, temple-building, or ritual procedure is stated in this verse; it is a narrative inquiry introducing the Hiranyakaśipu episode.